Dropsy

[Marshall..]

I keep losing my rainbow fish to dropsy,they are kept in a ph of 6.5 I was wondering if this is the problem as none of my other fish(Discus,tetras clown loach etc) are affected I know there is a remedy but am trying to find the original cause.

 

[*Fishkies*]

What food do you feed?
Also how often do you perform water changes?

The cause can sometimes be various organisms (unknown often) and poor water quality. It's an accumulation of fluid in the internal body cavity. Dropsy is like an internal infection.

 

[Marshall..]

They are fed on tetra prima,bloodworm,brine shrimp,and frozen beefheart that I use to feed my discus.Water changes every week,and tank kept in pristine condition.Like I said all my other breeds are very healthy.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Before dropsy comes bloating sometimes or constipation. Those are usually the before signs, however dropsy is very hard to catch early sometimes. Dropsy is one of those problems that cannot always be exactly diagnosed.

However with my expereince I have found dropsy to come from the poor water quality, or to rich of a diet for the fish. Hope this helps!

Best of luck with your fish keepings!

 

[Marshall..]

thanks but do you know if the ph could be the cause?

 

[-germ-]

Unsuitable PH'll contribute to stress which would make your fish more susceptible (what an annoying word, my brain cells must be dying off fast, can't spell) to illness although i doubt it'd cause it directly.
I reckon your extremely high protein diet is probably the most likely culprit....
Less bloodworm and no beefheart...
Try researching osmotic shock in FW fish there may be some link, if only in contributing factors, between this and dropsy.
Complete speculation but; Osmotic stress via low PH equals increased osmotic load equals mineral imbalances equals dropsy?